Adjustable amd portable shelving



. a 6 e m S t e e h S 2 S T R E B 0 R B m d 0 M 0 m ADJUSTABLE AND PORTABLE SHELVING.

Patented Dec. 16, 1884;

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

B. P. ROBERTS.

ADJUSTABLE AND PORTABLE SHELVING.

No, 309,360. Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

N. PETERS. Phm-Lnm m har. Washlngk m. n. c

UrvrTnio BENJAMIN l1. ROBERTS,

PATENT @i ricn.

OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

EFEPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,360, dated December 16, 188%.

Application filed June 17, 18534.

(X0 model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. Itonnn'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable and Portable Shelving, of which the iollowing is a specification, reference being had therein'to the accompanying drawings.

llfyinvention relates to shelves and shelving for stores, libraries, and the like 5 and the now elty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The invention is designed as an improve ment upon the device set forth in the patent granted to me May 15, 1888, and numbered 277, 510. In that patent the standards, shelves, (850., were adjustable vertically at will by means of a threaded rod, which was stationary, and operated through a threaded aperture in the foot of the standards. This I find to be an efficient construction for some pur poses, but too expensive for small stores or rooms. In that patent also theupper cornice was fixed to the top of the standards, which did not give sufficient adj ustability to accommodate dilierentsized rooms. In my present invention not only are the standards made fixtures, but the cornice is adjustable in the same manner as the shelves. The closets below, as well as all the otherparts, are readily applied and as readily taken apart for re moval. The entire system of shelves may be put up in a room without in any manner affecting the walls or defacing them, the entire device being secured only to the door near the wall.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2, a detail view-of one of the standards. Fig. 3 is a modification. Fig; 4: is a perspective detail of one of the brackets; Fig. 5, a modification showing the shelves and cornice adjustable, and Fig. 6 a detail yiew of a modified bracket adapted to serve as shown in Fi 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are front and side elevations, respectively, of an adjustable center-shelf support adapted for use in connection with my improvements.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the wall, and B the floor, of a room.

0 designates the front section of a closetframe having toe-pieces c, by which it is seecured to the floor by bolts 0, and having re movable drawers G. Reinovably secured to this frame 0 is a base-plate, D, and this plate is secured to the floor by rods D and screwbolts (1, the said rods binding the parts C and D firmly against the wall A.

E designates the standards, which have right-angled foot-pieces, E, which have abearing upon the plate D and one or more racks e. As shown in Fig. 1, each standard is adapted to stand close against the wall, the footpiece holding it parallel therewith, while a brace, 6, extending from the outer end of the footpiece to the top or near the top of each standard, prevents its springing outward from the weight of the shelves. Each standard has two shoulders, c c, which are engaged by the jaws f of the brackets F, while the lugs f of said brackets engage the rack 0. Each bracket has a lug, f, as in the former patent referred to, to prevent the shelves K from sagging, and the cornice ll is supported by a bracket, so as to be adjusted in the same manner as the shelves. This is important, as it is only necessary to run the cornice up and put in another shelf or set of shelves in order to accommodate an increase of stock, and the cornice may be raised or lowered to make a comely appearance. This renders also the device very applicable to all sizes of room, the only thing necessary to provide for being the vertical length of the standards.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the standards have double racks, and are adapted to be secured to the plates by foot-pieces extending in both directions. The brackets shown in Fig. 6 are also adapted to that arrangen'ient. In this construction the cornice is adjustable and the standards stationary. This construction I find to be cheap and efficient. The wall of the rooni is not defaced or injured, and the brace G serves with the standard having the solid foot-piece to great advantage.

H designates a shelf-support adapted to be placed 011 the base-shelf and between two of the standards, as shown in Fig. 1.

The base H is hollow and is provided at its top with a link, h, upon which the teeth 13 of an adjustable standard, I, are adapted to take. The standard is provided with a cap, 1, upon whichrests and is supported thereby the lower shelf of the series.

In lieu of the link a spring of wire may be secured to the top of the base H,to enable the standard to be easily and readily adjusted to the required height.

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. The frame 0 and base D, removably secured together, in combination with the rod 13',-toe-pieces c, and securing means 0 and (7, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The standards E, having foot-picces E,

racks e, and shoulders ecast in one piece, the braces G, and brackets F, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combinatiomwith the portable base 0 D and its securing means a d, of the standards E, having foot-pieces E, racks e, and shoulders e, the braces G, the brackets E, having engaging parts f f and the adjustable shelves and cornice, as set forth.

4. In combination with the lower shelf. of a series of shelves, an adjustable shelf-support constructed substantially as herein shown and described.

5. An adjustable shelf -support having a hollow base provided at its top with a cross piece, in combination with an adjustable rackstandard having a cap, the teeth of said rack adapted to take upon the cross-piece at the top of the base, as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. ROBERTS.

\Vitn esses:

Gno. vV. AMES, J. E. BoNnwITz. 

